Nestled in the mountain ranges of Toyohashi, Old Honsaka Tunnel (also known as 'Honzaka') was used as an alternative means of travel after a major earthquake damaged the main traverse route between Shizuoka and Aichi. Despite a number of worker deaths caused by accidents while building the tunnel, the dark history surrounding the Honsaka mountain ranges has led locals to believe the area is infested by female spirits.

Because of the disturbing history surrounding the 'Princess Route' which led through Honsaka (now known as outer Toyohashi), Old Honsaka Tunnel is listed as one of Japan's most spiritual locations.

Princess Route

During the Edo period (1603 – 1868), firearm weapons were banned and wives abandoning their warlord husbands was a significant issue. 姫街道 (ひめかいど / Princess Route' was such named due to the number of women who traversed the sixty kilometre stretch of road between Shizuoka and Aichi; causing it to be a main target for officials to interrogate women. In the Honsaka area, the interrogation process was notoriously abusive; including having women beaten, stripped, and raped (sometimes by other women) in order to check their hair and garments for secret notes or weapons.In conjunction to interrogation procedures, there was a significant number of women who disappeared while traversing the route – believed to be snatched in daylight or from inns by bandits. ​

Before a catastrophic earthquake in 1854 which caused tremendous damage to much of the Princess Route, women made the hard decision to travel through the mountain ranges of Honsaka.The ranges of Honsaka had perilous dangers with steep climbs, sudden drops, frigid cold in winter and unbearable humidity in summer, and murderous bandits who lurked outside of officials' territory. ​

​Many women were kidnapped, died, or simply vanished.

​Due to the staggering statistics of women who died while trying to avoid interrogation on the Princess Route, Old Honsaka Tunnel (built as an alternative route after the earthquake) is believed to be manifested with female spirits, including:

a spirit clutching a baby

a spirit dressed in a kimono

a spirit of an elderly woman who appears upside down from the ceiling within the tunnel

There have also been reported incidences of a female figure appearing behind cars, seeming to plead with drivers to help her escape the tunnel. It is believed a body part belonging to the woman remains within the tunnel walls as she seems tied to the area.

Presently, Old Honsaka Tunnel is mostly unused by traffic. The new Honsaka Tunnel was opened in 1978, and functioned as a toll road until early 2008. ​

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